Mecklenburg County grand jury hands down indictments

SoVaNow.com / June 18, 2014

The Mecklenburg County Grand Jury handed down indictments against eight individuals on June 16, including James Robert Meadows of Colonial Heights for robbery, felony count of robbery, and one felony count of use of a gun in the commission of a felony. Meadow’s alleged victim was William Lee Pearce.

John Kent Russell of La Crosse and Clarence Edward Hutcherson of Brodnax were each separately charged with one felony count of driving under the influence after each had previously been convicted of the same or similar offense.

Russell was additionally charged with driving without a license, where his license was revoked after a conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In 2010 Russell was convicted of his third offense of driving while under the influence. At that time, it was his third offense within 5 years.

Laura Parker Neal of South Hill was charged with one felony count of obtaining drugs by fraud, and one felony count of possession of a Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substance. Neal is currently awaiting sentencing after having been found guilty in March of this year of distribution of a schedule III drug.

Jason Garner Burroughs of White Plains, Maryland was charged with one felony count of possession of methamphetamine, a Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substance.

Marmeshia Kalene Alexander of Clarksville was charged with one felony count of shoplifting for theft from Rose’s Express of goods valued at less than $200. The felony charge stems from Alexander having been convicted of larceny or a similar offense on two or more other occasions.

On Monday, the day indictments were handed down, Alexander was set to stand trial for two offenses allegedly committed in July 2013, entering a house to commit assault and battery, and destruction of property.

Dominique Denise Bullock of Skipwith was charged with one felony count of unlawful wounding. Her alleged victim was Emily Currin. Albert Lee Crawley of South Hill was also charged with one felony count of unlawful wounding. His alleged victim was Omar Hector.

Indictments are not findings of guilt, but rather a determination that sufficient evidence exists to bring the cases to trial.

In other court news: Travis Levar Jones, 30 of South Hill, Va. was convicted by a Mecklenburg County jury on June 12 of two counts of selling cocaine for profit. The offense, which was his third, took place in 2013.

The convictions stem from an investigation conducted by the Southside Drug Task Force with investigators from the South Hill Police Department and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation revealed that the two sales of cocaine occurred in the South Hill area. The first sale of cocaine occurred in a residential area on Lombardy Street and the second in the parking lot of a local business. Jones was convicted of four similar drug crimes in 2007.

Jones was indicted by a Mecklenburg County Grand Jury on Aug. 19, 2013 and requested trial by jury. Attorney Mark Mokris of South Hill represented Jones and Mecklenburg County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Nora J. Miller represented the Commonwealth.

The jury recommended a sentence of 15 years imprisonment and $15,000 fine on each count — a total sentence of 30 years and $30,000 fine, which is ten years above the statutory mandatory minimum sentence. Formal sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 15. Jones also faces a probation violation.